Internet and tech giants drive renewable energy projects in Illinois, Virginia
Illinois and Virginia will see the creation of two new wind and solar energy farms with enough power to charge 74,000 homes, thanks to an agreement announced this week between Apple, Akamai, Etsy and Swiss Re.
In all, their efforts will yield 290 megawatts of renewable energy added to the Eastern U.S. electric grid. Apple is spearheading the effort to help the other companies gain access to wind and solar power at competitive prices and agreement terms within the 13 state PJM wholesale electric market. In this way, they are accelerating renewable energy generation.
“At Apple, we’re proud to power all of our operations around the world with 100 percent renewable energy,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, said. “In the process, we’ve charted a course for other companies and organizations to purchase renewable energy and transition their own operations to greener power. The collaboration announced today shows how companies of all sizes can address climate change by coming together.”
The 3Degrees company is assisting the group. The projects should come online in the next two years, with sPower and Geronimo Energy on development.
